On May 5, 2015, ACT and its indigenous partners celebrated a historic event for the Colombian indigenous movement. After 20 years of diligent work, the Yunguillo Indigenous Reserve—an area of extraordinary cultural and environmental importance—expands from 10,675 to 55,341 acres (more than 85 square miles). Read the press release to learn more about ACT’s work in this area, as well as why this territory is so critical.

On March 11, 2015, ACT’s Katia Delvoye delivered a green education kit to a public school in the remote Surinamese indigenous village of Kwamalasamutu. The kit contains lesson plans and their related materials, including books about nature and the environment in Suriname.

In March, ACT Education and Outreach Coordinator Katia Delvoye delivered ACT Suriname’s newest publication, “My Plants,” to public schools in Suriname’s interior. During her visit to the villages of Apetina and Kwamalasamutu, Katia distributed this second book in the Junior Park Ranger series and its accompanying poster and educational materials. The book covers the names and uses of local plants.

This year, ACT and the University of Utrecht will commence a joint project designed to strengthen sustainable management to protect resources and biodiversity in Trio and Wayana territory. The priority areas will be defined through careful discussion with local indigenous communities. The project will run for two years and has a budget of 215,000 euros.

In January, shamans from various villages across Suriname’s rainforest interior partook in a two-day evaluation of ACT Suriname’s Shamans and Apprentices Program. In addition to the presence of indigenous shamans, Ramon Awenkina—a maroon traditional healer from Gonini Mofo who specializes in bone-setting—joined the meeting.

In February, Rudo Kemper (Amazon Conservation Team), Niradj Hanoeman (ADEK University student), and Keeng Koemoe (an indigenous cartographer from Kwamalasamutu) traveled to the upper Saramacca river in Suriname for one month to commence a two-year participatory mapping project with the Matawaai maroon people.

Bruce Hoffman, Manager for Field Projects of ACT Suriname, is working with the indigenous community of Kwamalasamutu on a project…

This January, ACT’s GIS (geographic information systems) team composed of Brian Hettler, Santiago Palacios, and Rudo Kemper traveled to Belem,…

Several corporations around the United States recently began supporting ACT with generous in-kind donations. Our field staff now sport KEEN shoes, sleep in Eagle’s Nest Outfitters’ hammocks and use Rite in the Rain all-weather notebooks. We are working to increase these partnerships to supply our colleagues with the equipment they need to be safe and effective in their fieldwork. To see the full list of ACT’s corporate sponsors, click here.